SEAN McMorrow and Mike Sgroi won’t be allowed to put Coventry Blaze off their game this weekend.

The pair, who play for Belfast and Sheffield respectively, have a reputation for running the opposition out of the rink given half a chance.

Both will drop the gloves, play to the crowd and pose a huge physical challenge to all comers.

But Coventry Blaze head coach Paul Thompson will not worry about any of their antics provided his side do the job on the ice.

“We have to keep the Blaze ball rolling and not worry about any other distractions. Our focus is on winning games but we will deal with anything that comes our way,” he said.

Thompson is expecting a tough contest in both games, with Belfast traditionally proving a close call: “We have to keep playing within ourselves, stick to the plan and do what we do. If we can get a road win there, that’s a big win against one of our contenders.

“Apart from when we beat them 7-1, they have all been one-goal games. They have a bit of everything in their line-up.”

Sheffield, whose form has ebbed and flowed since Brad Cruikshank was released to make way for Sgroi, have proved capable of grabbing a win but have lacked the consistency that marked last season’s campaign.

Thompson said: “When you win a league, everyone wants a piece of you, week in, week out. You are the team everyone wants to beat. That may have been their downfall.